Indicating device



NOV- 21, 1933. M. M. BLuFsToN INDICATING DEVICE Filed July 23, 1951 'CHHNGE SMITH OIL MILES 8 CONSULT CHART Snvcntor Bu I Lttorncg Y Patented Nov.,21, 1933 UNITEDv STATES PATENT osi-ICE Application July 23, 1931. serial' No. 552,647.- u i e claims. (on 4o70 This invention relates to'improvements in indicating devices, and more particularly to animproved arrangement of parts and assembly of indicating devices of a type'radapted for auto- 5 motive use, to apprise a motorist of the mileage gure at which the vehicle is due to receive some Aroutine service, such as oil change, chassis lubrication, ete.v

A number of devices for the purpose noted have been available to the trade during the past Ie'w years, these devices consisting, in mostcases, ofv a plurality of numeral-bearing rotatable members disposed in mutual adjacence, and adapted for manual rotation `to display a mileage figure at which the car is to receive some routine attention. -Such devices which have thus far appeared are, however, characterized by a great number of parts of relatively expensive construction and high. assembly cost, and are furtherv characterized by substantial dimensions,` being particularly `of' appreciable and objectionable depth orthickness, so as, according to usual methods of mountingto present a substantial obstruction on or near the instrument board of the vehicle. In view ofthe obiectionsnoted, it is a general object of this invention to producea device for this purpose whichV is characterized by a more compact arrangement of movable, legendbearing numbers, and further characterized by a minimum requirement of space, particularlyof depthorgthiclmess, so that the instrument may be disposed' to lie" substantially flat against an instrument board or other visible surface of an automobile. s

A further object of theinvention is attained in a device characteriz'edby relatively fewer projecting portions such as the manipulating members for the numeral discs. Y

Yetanother object is attained in thereconomy of space internal to the instrument, the arrangement being such that the device is. of more simple and rugged construction than anything heretoforeappearing for asimilar purpose, and the arrangement further being such that all space internal of the deviceis fully ,occupied so as to minimize .the over all dimensions and partcularly the depth of the device, and to minimize the possibility of displacement of the dises, pivots vand other movable parts.

Yet anotlirobjective siniplicityv o f construction is attained in the provision of a plurality of Vnumeral-bearing discs in a common planeythe provision of peripheral bearingsfor such discs, 'and the location of characters or legendsI on the face of the dises, as distinguished from the pe- .the discs-9 and 10, but are similarly related for ripheral or' edge portions thereof, according to certain older practices.

A'still further object of the invention is attained through an arrangement whereby'a single actuatingmember is operatively connected to a plurality of the numeral-'bearing discs, and whereby` to simplify the number of actuating `members' necessary to care for the requisite plu- `rality vof separate numeral bearing members.

[Further objects andadvantages, not necessary herein to be specifically enumerated, will appear from the following detailed description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device con- 70 structed according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a section along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, certain portions, particularly certain 'of the numeral discs, being shown in elevation, for clearne'ss; Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the assembly, with 75 the face or nisli plate removed; Fig. 4 is a sec'- tion along line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and also showing, for clearness, one of thenumeral discsi'n elevation; Fig. 5 insa plan view ofa portion of the assembly including a base plate bywhich is carried intermediate'member'such as-a bearing plate, Vhereinafter described,` and which may be Aformed integrally with the baseplate, or consist of a separate member, as shown, and'Fl'g. 6 is an enlarged'iragmentarysectioh showing the a- 85 rangement for frictionally positioning' the nuneral discs intheir adjusted settings. x

Referring now by numerals vof reference to the drawing, the structure in its presentlyprefrred form, and as' illustrated, includes a faceplate oi' 90 finishV member '7 provided with a central window or aperture Sthrough whichv is visiblel a row' of numerals,'severally borne'by a plurality of ro'- tatable members such as discs 9, 10, 11 and 12 (Fig. 3).- These discs' are bypreferen'ce disposed 95 in two contiguously arranged groups, the first group comprising a centrally apertured disc 9, and aannuliis or disc 10 closely surrounding 'the' disc 9', thearrang'ement being such that the members 9 and 10' are rotatable about a common 100 axis 13. The second group of numeral discs, consisting in the present example of the members l11 and 12, are of somewhat larger diameter than rotation about a common axis 14.

The feamost or' bei-.tom portion of the assemblyis preferably constituted by a base plate 15, apertures er recessed as at 16, concentrically with the'axe's land 14, andthus serving to receive,

which the numeral bearing discs 9 andA 12 are, respectively, secured. The pivots 17 extend upwardly or outwardly of the assembly through paired apertures 18 in the face plate 7, with one of the apertures 18 on each side of the window 8 and so located that the openings 16 and 18 serve as spaced bearings for lthe pivots 17.

Superposed on the base plate 15 is a bearing plate 19, the assembly of these two parts appearing inV plan in Fig. 5. `'Ihe bearing member'19 is provided with a smaller aperture 20, the diameter of which corresponds substantially to the external diameter of the numeral disc 10, and thus constitutes a 'peripheral bearing therefor. larger opening 21 in like manner serves to embrace the numeral disc 11, as appears in Fig. 3. By reason of certain advantages in manufacture, the plates 15 and 19 are presently illustrated Aand described as separate members. However, I regard it as entirely within the scope ofthe present inventionto form the plates 15 andv 19as a single element, and thus to utilize only a faceplate and a base plate assembled in adjacence to eachother. It Willialso appear obviousthat, in the lattercase, the openings 20 and 21 may not extend-entirely through. the base plate, but may be recessed there- .in either by partially drilling the plate, or by drawing operations,.so as to countersink -suitable recesses, or provide apertures such-as 20 and21 ina manner toresult in peripheral bearings for the `numeral discs. According to ltheplatter construction, the discs and bearings therefor willl be disposed rearwardly ofthe forward face of the base plate and rearwardly of the rear face ofthe finish plate.

Each of theA apertures 20 and 21 in the bearing plate 19, of the illustrated embodiment is characterized by a'radially disposed recess at each of its Aopposite sides,`these recesses beingv indicated at 22, and keach .thereof serving asa seat to receive and position against angular movement, a spring, the-springs being indicated at 23, and 24 (Fig. 3). The springs arepreferably in the nature of bow springs of `slight curvature and. formed ,of a thin resilient material, centrally apertured to receive the pivot 17 and centrally and-longitudinally ridged or corrugated for strength,A These springs serveto provide the requisite frictional resistance toy rotational movement of the numeral discs 9, 10, 11 and 12,vsothat they .will not become .altered in` position-under the influence Vof vibration, or of casual and unintentional engagement of the pivots 17. y y. K ,f

Cooperating with the springs 23 and24 for positioning the numeral discs in their intendedv adjusted relations, are recessesor apertures 25 Yd isposed in groups circumferentially arranged about the openings 16. rIfhese circles of depressed portions areadapted 4for engagement byv downwardly projecting pins, on integral upset portionagbestappearing at 26 (Fig. 6).

Assembly of thegdevice may be effected by superposing the bearing plate 19 on the base plate 15, in case these members are constructed separately as shown in Fig. 5; the numeral disc 9, affixed to its pivot17 and surroundedby the disc 10 is then inserted in the aperture V2,0, and over thisv assembly is disposed the spring 23. Inllke manner the discs lliand `12, the latter secured to its pivot 17,` are disposed in the openingl21 .withthe lowermost projecting portions of the pin 17 occupying the journal .opening 16 therefor. With the springs ,23 and 24 each seated into ,a pair of diametrally opposed recesses 22, the face plate 7A- is applied downwardly over the assemblyras effected thus far, with the pivot 17 projecting through the journal openings 18, and the parts then secured in their assembled relation, preferably by the use of rivets 27. Suitable rivet openings are provided in register, in the base plate l5, the bearing plate 19 and face plate 7. It Will also be noted (Fig. 2) that the edges of the base plate Asetting of the numeral discs to indicate .the desired figure, such as a mileage figure, it willbe understood that the pivots 17 are secured respectively to the discs 9 and l2, and that these innermost discsare Vprovided respectively. .with outwardly extending radialprojections 29, (Fig. 3), the outer discs 10` and I11 being formed with companion projections 30 whereby, upon rotation of ,either of the discs 9 or 12, throughitsprojecting pivot member 17, the outermostdisc of the group may be actuated through impingement vofone of the projections 29 upon one ofthe projections.

A further economy in number of parts is-effectedby employing a number of two figures, for example on the inner disc 12 of the right hand group appearing in Fig. 3. VFor the purposeintended, this provides a reading4 which is close enough to satisfy the usualrequirements as to a mileage figure for routine motor` service, etc.,

Itwill appear from the foregoingv description of Aparts that the numeral discs may be dieformed in quantity, of Asheet metal; that in .like manner, the base plate v.15; the bearing plate 19 v.and the face plate 7 may each be of stamped or punchedl construction, whether the plates 15 and 19 are formed separately, orof a single piece. vWhen separately formed, as shown, the bearing plate is apertured as at 20 and 21v either by separate drilling'operations or through, the use of suitable dies in a mannerwell known in the art, and Ythus the device may be produced and assembled ata very low manufacturing cost.

Any suitable' form of mounting may. be-employed,for example, aspringfclip (not shown) `secured to the'base plate 15 may serve'to hold the device in easily detachable relation, saytto the instrumentsboard of van automobile, or, as preferred, a pair'of mounting screwsas'suggested at 31, may beextendedthrough the assembly and into an instrument board or like .visibly located portion of an automobile. (Figs. 3 and 5) permit the screws'31- to extend through and beyond'the indicator'.` .i

I am aware that devices haveheretofore been conceived and marketed, which consist of'a pluralitybf rotatable, numeral-bearing discs, intendedv to accomplish the purpose ofthe present 'invention Thepresent device is," however, re'- garded as superior to l"anything "of'th'esort heretofore offered'to the trade, particularlyinthe ,compactv assembly and novel method ofl supporting and mounting the numeral-bearing discsjthe minimumv depth or thickness` of thef apparatus, and alsoY y in the Y facilities for .manufacturingf the several component parts ofthe device l entirely by punching or swimming"operationav4 While the invention has been described by making particular detailed reference to a single preferred executional embodiment, such description is to be understood solely in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, since a number of changes may be made in the several parts, their combinations and arrangements, without departing from the spirit and full intended scope of the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention: 1. In an indicator of the class described, in cluding a base member, a nish member, a plurality of concentric rotatable, numeral-bearing discs mounted between said'members, disc-positioning means formed by projections and notches on one' disc and the base member, and another projection on one disc forming an operative connection to an adjacent disc.

2. In an indicator of the class described, a base member, a finish member, a pair of rotatable numeral-bearing discs, disposed between said members, in concentric, nested relation, a projection or lug formed on one of said discs and projecting toward the other disc, an abutment for said lug on the other disc, arranged in the path of the lug, whereby upon engagement of the lug and abutment, the Vdiscs may be concurrently rotated upon actuation of one disc.

3. In an indicator of the class described, a

base, a front closure, numeral-bearing rotatablek discs mounted for rotation in a plane adjacent the front closure, a plate carried by the base, forming peripheral bearings for certain of said discs, and springs disposed between the bearing plate and front closure, adjacent said discs, said plate being formed to provide seats for said springs arranged to prevent angular movement thereof as the associated discs are rotated.

4. In an indicator, a case, paired, concentric, numeral-bearing discs within the case, an interlock connection formed by integral, abutting portions of the discs, arranged for engagement to cause the concurrent movement of both discs, upon actuation of one disc in one direction, and permitting individual actuation of said last disc, when moved in the opposite direction.

5. In an indicator, a case, paired, numeralbearing discs arranged one within the other within the case, a projection formed on one disc, a

projection-receiving portion formed on the adjacent disc adapted to permit interengagement of the discs, and a ,disc-positioning device formed by one disc and' a wall of the case, consisting of an upstruck lug and a seat therefor.

, 6. In an indicator of the class described, a base plate, a bearing plate disposed in parallel adjacence to the base plate, a nish plate, overlying the bearing and base plates and provided with a peripheral fiange arranged circumferentially to embrace the bearing and base plates, a plurality of numeral-bearing, rotatable discs disposed between the base and finish plates and substantially within, and of even thickness with the bearing plate, the bearing plate having circular openings of a diameter substantially conforming to the diameter of a pair of said rotatable discs, the discs being disposed in contiguous, concentric groups, each group disposed within one of said apertures of the bearing plate; a pivot extending through the innermost disc of each group and journaled in the base and finish plates; means formed by the discs and cooperating portions of the base plate, tending to position the discs in their adjusted relation, bow springs disposed between the respective groups of rotatable discs and the finish plate, and further tending to position the discs against unintended rotation, the finish plate being provided with a slotted opening through which a row of numerals on said discs is rendered visible, means for securing the plates and discs in assembled relation, and means for detachably mounting the assembly to an exposed surface of an automotive vehicle.

MARTIN M. BLUFsToN. 

